For Bob Bradley a “trap game” is a term of pad-and-helmet professional football, but as far as his shorts-and-cleats soccer team is concerned it may fit just the same on Sunday.

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Coming off two successful tests in their budding rivalry with the Portland Timbers and ahead of the eagerly awaited Banc of California Stadium “El Trafico” on Thursday, an away match against Minnesota United FC exhibits all the ingredients of a letdown.

With respect to the Loons, which sits in ninth position in the MLS Western Conference standings as it seeks its ninth point this week, the second-place Los Angeles Football Club is aware it best not overlook a team it previously shut out 2-0.

Minnesota has improved since changing from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 formation, a move that sparked Colombian forward Darwin Quintero to five goals and two assists in his past four matches, as well as back-to-back MLS Team of the Week selections.

Kaye has become a reliable piece of the LAFC midfield over the subsequent 2-1/2 months, and should start for the 19th time in what will be a shorthanded midfield — Atuesta remains out with an ankle injury; Lee Nguyen is ineligible after being red carded against Portland on July 15; Portuguese designated player Andre Horta isn’t quite ready to see the field; and Carlos Vela’s minute are being monitored so his participation isn’t assured.

Bradley said his team understands the challenge in Minnesota and credited his locker room leaders for recognizing that they’re facing a far a better team than the hampered squad they played in L.A. on May 9:

Said Bradley: “The guys know that going and playing a hot team, playing in that stadium, playing at that time of day, none of those things are easy.”

The past few days have also required a distracting look back at LAFC’s 3-2 victory over Portland, which seemingly propelled them to the U.S Open Cup semifinals against the Houston Dynamo on Aug. 8. until a protest was filed by the Timbers regarding Kaye’s status as a foreign-born player on LAFC’s 18-man Open Cup match-day roster.

The U.S. Soccer Federation postponed Thursday’s draw that would have determined hosts for the semifinal round and hosting priority for the final match. Faced with the facts of what U.S. Soccer called a “good faith misunderstanding,” Portland withdrew its complaint on Friday and the Open Cup draw was rescheduled for the day after LAFC’s contest on the artificial turf of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium.

A win would even LAFC with Atlanta United FC for the most away victories in the league at six, and give L.A. 19 points on the road, the same total they have accrued at Banc of California Stadium, in just two additional matches.

“Once that game is over with,” Kaye said, “then we’ll focus on the Galaxy.”